Step-grandson identified as ‘person of interest’ in death of 83-year-old

Peggy Gamble, second from the left, was found slain in her home at 2324 8th St. on Dec. 28. In this photo, she is celebrating her her 80th birthday with her three children, from left to right, Miriam Short, Richard Gamble and Cenneta Gunn. She died at age 83.
Provided by Peggy Gamble’s family

The step-grandson of the 83-year-old Columbus woman found dead Monday afternoon in her Eighth Street home Monday afternoon has been named a “person of interest” in her death, Columbus Police Maj. Gil Slouchick confirmed.

Angelo Short, 42, of Phenix City was taken into custody at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex in the 700 block of Lawyers Lane. He faces an obstruction charge stemming from his arrest and a theft by taking motor vehicle charge related to the beige 1988 Toyota Corolla that was missing from Gamble’s home after her death.

Short is being held in the Muscogee County Jail, where he awaits his 9 a.m. Thursday hearing in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Authorities were called to the Gambles’ 2324 8th St. home around 1 p.m. Monday after a relative found her dead in a hallway adjacent to a bedroom. She was pronounced dead at 1:34 p.m., Deputy Coroner Charles Newton said.

Authorities found evidence that someone had broken into her home, and the 1988 Toyota Corolla was missing. The vehicle, which has a reported value of $3,000, was found Monday night at an unspecified location in Columbus.

Slouchick declined to give the exact location, but he said it was found abandoned and Short was involved in the theft.

When authorities took Short into custody, he was also wanted on outstanding warrants for robbery and assault charges related to a Piggly Wiggly incident that occurred at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. A police report states that he stole $74 worth of cigarettes from the 910 Brown Ave. store without using a weapon.